The Ottawa Senators' aspirations to climb the Eastern Conference standings suffered a significant blow on Monday night, January 5, 2026, in a game they had circled as a must-win. Facing the Detroit Red Wings at the Canadian Tire Centre, the Senators' inability to get crucial saves proved their undoing in a 5-3 defeat before a crowd of 16,891.
Goaltending Crisis Derails Critical Matchup
With a chance to close the gap on a direct competitor for the final wild-card spot, the Senators' night began to unravel early due to shaky netminding. Starter Leevi Merilainen, tasked with carrying the load in the absence of Linus Ullmark, was pulled after just one period. He surrendered three goals on only nine shots, forcing head coach Travis Green to make an early change.
Belleville call-up Hunter Shepard entered the game for the final 40 minutes, marking his first NHL appearance since April of the previous year. While Shepard stabilized the game temporarily, the damage was already done. At the other end of the ice, Detroit's John Gibson was stellar, turning aside 34 Ottawa shots to anchor the Red Wings' victory.
Senators' Rally Falls Short After Controversial Call
Despite the early deficit, the Senators showed fight. Claude Giroux got Ottawa on the board in the second period, and Dylan Cozens scored on the power play later in the frame to pull within a goal. Captain Brady Tkachuk made it a 4-3 game early in the third, injecting life into the home crowd.
The comeback hopes, however, were dashed late in the third when Detroit's Michael Rasmussen scored to restore a two-goal lead. A potential dramatic finish was then snuffed out when a Senators goal was waved off. Shane Pinto thought he had scored to make it 5-4 with under seven minutes left, but the officials ruled that Ridly Greig had interfered with Gibson. A coach's challenge by Ottawa failed, upholding the call on the ice and sealing Ottawa's fate.
Playoff Implications and the Path Forward
This loss represented more than just two points in the standings. Entering the game just three points out of a playoff position, this was a direct four-point swing against a team they are chasing. The inability to "string wins together," as Tkachuk alluded to pre-game, remains the club's central obstacle.
The spotlight now falls squarely on Merilainen's ability to rebound. As Tkachuk stated before the puck drop, this was a "massive game" to measure themselves against. The result indicates that while the offensive pieces, including Giroux, Cozens, and Tkachuk, can produce, consistent goaltending remains the missing link. For the Senators to remain in the postseason conversation, finding stability in the crease is an immediate and non-negotiable requirement.
